Английский Этимологический словарь - pass (v.)

- 12c., from O.Fr. passer, from V.L. *passare "to step, walk, pass," from L. passus "step, pace." Meaning "decline to do something" is from 1869; that of "sexual advance" is from 1928. Pass out "lose consciousness" is from 1918. Pass the buck is from 1865, said to be poker slang reference to the buck horn-handled knife that was passed around to signify whose turn it was to deal. Pass the hat is from 1762. The verb meaning "to be thought to be something one is not" (esp. in racial sense) is from 1940s, from pass oneself off (as), first found 1809. Password is from 1817; passable, in the sense of "tolerable," is first attested late 15c. Pass-book (1828) is apparently from the notion of "passing" between bank and customer.